ZANZIBAR, Oct 7 – Police on Tanzania’s archipelago of Zanzibar urged vigilance Thursday following the abduction of foreigners in neighbouring Kenya by Somali gunmen.
Zanzibar police commissioner Mussa Ali Mussa’s call came after police this week also arrested seven Somali bandits who attempted to attack an offshore oil drilling ship near one of the archipelago’s isles.
“Zanzibar’s economy depends on the tourism industry. If tourists are kidnapped, they will avoid coming to Zanzibar and therefore the country will have no revenue. Let us work together to keep Zanzibar safe,” Mussa told residents.
“We must join hands to identify people who want to ruin our economy by kidnapping tourists and hijacking ships,” he added during a tour to Pemba isle, of the three Zanzibar islands.
Two foreigners, one British, one French, were kidnapped from a Kenyan island in less than one month and taken to lawless Somalia by their abductors.
The semi-autonomous Tanzanian archipelago is a famous holiday destination and its economy is hugely dependent on tourism.
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